November 2024 Exhibit
Facing You
Our 10th annual invitational portraiture exhibition
Pippa Arend, Reed Clarke, Patricia Giraud, Yasmina Nysten, Timothy Peitsch, Amelia Santiago, and Ruth Shively
Imogen is pleased to be presenting its tenth annual invitational exhibition exploring humanity through portraiture. This year’s exhibition will include the paintings of Portland based artists Pippa Arend, Reed Clarke, Patricia L. Giraud and Ruth Shively as well as local Astoria talent of Yasmina Nysten, Timothy Peitsch, and Amelia Santiago; all exploring the essence of humanity. This evocative collection moves beyond a surface glance of an individual, inviting the viewer a step closer and to consider the underlying. Perhaps even to see ourselves through the eyes of others and what it means to be a part of humankind. Each portrait tells a story; we invite you to take part. The exhibition opens during Astoria’s Second Saturday Artwalk, November 9th, 12:00 – 8:00 pm and will be on view through December 9th. Artists will be at the gallery from 5 – 8 pm, November 9th and available to answer questions about their work.
Many artists at some point in their career have placed focus on the human form as subject matter, for some it’s a practice of study, for others it’s a means to participate with humanity on a more intimate level. All of these artists fall into that category. Portraiture becomes a vehicle utilized to explore deeper reflection of who we are and what we convey via nonverbal communication, simply by stance, expression, or direction of gaze. These artists, all incredibly skilled with chosen medium bring suggestion of story and history through portrayal of individuals.
Pippa Arend, a Portland based artist includes three portraits to this year’s show. Painting in an expressionistic style which she refers to as “Splash Portraiture,” she works in loose washes of sheer and vibrant color overlapping defined form, placing focus on layers to create compelling composition. Her portraits and other works have been collected internationally and been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions around the country.
Reed Clarke of Portland, Oregon has dedicated much of his career as a fine artist, painting others. Often his subjects are known literary greats. Clarke also creates his own characters, referencing people he’s observed in daily life while bringing in elements to create dynamic composition. Known for his skill as a painter and printmaker, he has had his work juried into Clatsop Community College’s, prestigious Au Naturel: Nudes in the 21st Century exhibition several years running, receiving a first prize award as well as a purchase award from CCC. His skill is apparent in the nuance of palette to create mood and emotion through an intimate look and consideration into another’s experience, perhaps with a goal of fostering greater understanding and acceptance of who we are. About his work Clarke states:
“Faces and figures inhabit all my paintings and when I try to stray from this subject something I can’t resist always calls me back. In my work I hope to elicit a statement about being human that is familiar, and also seems impossible to say as clearly or completely in other mediums. When possible, I seek to emphasize the geometric shapes formed by different parts of the composition and bring out the abstract surface rhythms of the composition. Ultimately however, I’m striving for a balance between recording a human subject that is compelling and creating a paint surface on the canvas that engages and rewards the viewer.”
We are excited to welcome Patricia L. Giraud to this year’s exhibition. An accomplished print maker from Portland, Giraud includes her intaglio prints focusing on the human form. Taking inspiration from the natural world she places the figure within the landscape. While not necessarily traditional portraiture, her figurative work depicts a somewhat mysterious quality, conjuring a deep sense of nostalgia. About her work she states: “Intaglio offers a variety of techniques with which to express anatomy, forms shaped by light and shadow, large forces at work and intimate moments.” Giraud’s work has been widely exhibited with her work placed in collections throughout the US, Canada, and England.
Also new to this year’s exhibition are the large-scale oil paintings by Yasmina Nysten a Finnish/Lebanese artist. Nysten, who now calls Astoria home, brings three paintings, showcasing her vast experience in figurative painting. Typically taking a narrative approach and alluding to storytelling she keeps focus on the individual portrayed. Vivid and striking color add to an overall mood, setting the tone for each piece. About her work she states: “The evolution of my artistic process has been marked by a dynamic interplay between intentionality and serendipity. While I’ve explored a wide array of mediums—acrylic, oil, markers, ink, and more—the one unchanging element that threads through all my work is a deep, unwavering preoccupation with the human form as the central subject, the axis around which my explorations and experiments inevitably revolve.” Nysten has exhibited her work extensively across the globe, including an exhibition in Qatar and previously in Beirut, Paris, Dubai and New York City as well as many other art venues throughout the world.
We are pleased to be welcoming back the exquisitely rendered work of Astoria artist, Timothy Peitsch. Peitsch has always enjoyed the challenge of portraiture, considering it the purest subject matter, the most recognizable. For him it’s an exploration of personality, with the goal of capturing something beyond the surface and finding an understanding or hint of who someone is, not merely what they appear to be. About his work he states: “A portrait is the most enjoyable platform for me to work from. I’ve always loved the viewers’ reaction to them. It seems like everyone brings their own narrative and life experience to my portraits. Inevitably the viewers will begin to tell me stories about a person they knew or a personal experience they had. It’s always fascinating to me that a portrait will trigger those memories and emotions in a person.”
Also included to this year’s exhibition is the work of Amelia Santiago. Santiago, who lives in Astoria is not new to Imogen, some may recall her incredible felted sculpture of our canine friends and other elaborate needle felted wool sculptural pieces. She balances her work as a fiber artist equally with her love of the painting process. After graduating from Pacific Northwest College of Art, Santiago traveled to Iceland where she became enamored with wool fiber, this led to a decade long career of creating 3-dimensional animal portraiture. Still, she never let the process of painting stray too far. About her work and processes she states: “I have been making art my entire life and I have always been drawn to the figure, both human and animal and often the two together. To me, painting a portrait is not only about the sitter but equally about the artist as well. I see myself in the images I make, and I think about the human condition.”
Joining us again is Ruth Shively, a Portland based artist. Typically drawn to imagery of women she portrays quiet resilience and an innate sense of strength and beauty. About her work she states: “I work largely with the figure, concentrating on women. In awe of the strength women behold, I feel the need to express their character through my work. I can’t explain how I choose my subjects, I go with my instinct and immediate feelings and drawn to stark, positive/negative space. I like humor, mysteriousness, and intimate mood, wanting the viewer to make their own interpretation. I studied drawing and illustration in school but I’m a self-taught painter and prefer this medium as I love the spontaneity of the paint and using color to create space.” Shively, who grew up in the Midwest, has lived in Paris, New York City, Minneapolis and now Portland. She has exhibited her work in numerous group and solo exhibitions that have taken her from Los Angeles to New York and many venues in between.
Facing You
Our 10th annual invitational portraiture exhibition
Pippa Arend, Reed Clarke, Patricia Giraud, Yasmina Nysten, Timothy Peitsch, Amelia Santiago, and Ruth Shively
Imogen is pleased to be presenting its tenth annual invitational exhibition exploring humanity through portraiture. This year’s exhibition will include the paintings of Portland based artists Pippa Arend, Reed Clarke, Patricia L. Giraud and Ruth Shively as well as local Astoria talent of Yasmina Nysten, Timothy Peitsch, and Amelia Santiago; all exploring the essence of humanity. This evocative collection moves beyond a surface glance of an individual, inviting the viewer a step closer and to consider the underlying. Perhaps even to see ourselves through the eyes of others and what it means to be a part of humankind. Each portrait tells a story; we invite you to take part. The exhibition opens during Astoria’s Second Saturday Artwalk, November 9th, 12:00 – 8:00 pm and will be on view through December 9th. Artists will be at the gallery from 5 – 8 pm, November 9th and available to answer questions about their work.
Many artists at some point in their career have placed focus on the human form as subject matter, for some it’s a practice of study, for others it’s a means to participate with humanity on a more intimate level. All of these artists fall into that category. Portraiture becomes a vehicle utilized to explore deeper reflection of who we are and what we convey via nonverbal communication, simply by stance, expression, or direction of gaze. These artists, all incredibly skilled with chosen medium bring suggestion of story and history through portrayal of individuals.
Pippa Arend, a Portland based artist includes three portraits to this year’s show. Painting in an expressionistic style which she refers to as “Splash Portraiture,” she works in loose washes of sheer and vibrant color overlapping defined form, placing focus on layers to create compelling composition. Her portraits and other works have been collected internationally and been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions around the country.
Reed Clarke of Portland, Oregon has dedicated much of his career as a fine artist, painting others. Often his subjects are known literary greats. Clarke also creates his own characters, referencing people he’s observed in daily life while bringing in elements to create dynamic composition. Known for his skill as a painter and printmaker, he has had his work juried into Clatsop Community College’s, prestigious Au Naturel: Nudes in the 21st Century exhibition several years running, receiving a first prize award as well as a purchase award from CCC. His skill is apparent in the nuance of palette to create mood and emotion through an intimate look and consideration into another’s experience, perhaps with a goal of fostering greater understanding and acceptance of who we are. About his work Clarke states:
“Faces and figures inhabit all my paintings and when I try to stray from this subject something I can’t resist always calls me back. In my work I hope to elicit a statement about being human that is familiar, and also seems impossible to say as clearly or completely in other mediums. When possible, I seek to emphasize the geometric shapes formed by different parts of the composition and bring out the abstract surface rhythms of the composition. Ultimately however, I’m striving for a balance between recording a human subject that is compelling and creating a paint surface on the canvas that engages and rewards the viewer.”
We are excited to welcome Patricia L. Giraud to this year’s exhibition. An accomplished print maker from Portland, Giraud includes her intaglio prints focusing on the human form. Taking inspiration from the natural world she places the figure within the landscape. While not necessarily traditional portraiture, her figurative work depicts a somewhat mysterious quality, conjuring a deep sense of nostalgia. About her work she states: “Intaglio offers a variety of techniques with which to express anatomy, forms shaped by light and shadow, large forces at work and intimate moments.” Giraud’s work has been widely exhibited with her work placed in collections throughout the US, Canada, and England.
Also new to this year’s exhibition are the large-scale oil paintings by Yasmina Nysten a Finnish/Lebanese artist. Nysten, who now calls Astoria home, brings three paintings, showcasing her vast experience in figurative painting. Typically taking a narrative approach and alluding to storytelling she keeps focus on the individual portrayed. Vivid and striking color add to an overall mood, setting the tone for each piece. About her work she states: “The evolution of my artistic process has been marked by a dynamic interplay between intentionality and serendipity. While I’ve explored a wide array of mediums—acrylic, oil, markers, ink, and more—the one unchanging element that threads through all my work is a deep, unwavering preoccupation with the human form as the central subject, the axis around which my explorations and experiments inevitably revolve.” Nysten has exhibited her work extensively across the globe, including an exhibition in Qatar and previously in Beirut, Paris, Dubai and New York City as well as many other art venues throughout the world.
We are pleased to be welcoming back the exquisitely rendered work of Astoria artist, Timothy Peitsch. Peitsch has always enjoyed the challenge of portraiture, considering it the purest subject matter, the most recognizable. For him it’s an exploration of personality, with the goal of capturing something beyond the surface and finding an understanding or hint of who someone is, not merely what they appear to be. About his work he states: “A portrait is the most enjoyable platform for me to work from. I’ve always loved the viewers’ reaction to them. It seems like everyone brings their own narrative and life experience to my portraits. Inevitably the viewers will begin to tell me stories about a person they knew or a personal experience they had. It’s always fascinating to me that a portrait will trigger those memories and emotions in a person.”
Also included to this year’s exhibition is the work of Amelia Santiago. Santiago, who lives in Astoria is not new to Imogen, some may recall her incredible felted sculpture of our canine friends and other elaborate needle felted wool sculptural pieces. She balances her work as a fiber artist equally with her love of the painting process. After graduating from Pacific Northwest College of Art, Santiago traveled to Iceland where she became enamored with wool fiber, this led to a decade long career of creating 3-dimensional animal portraiture. Still, she never let the process of painting stray too far. About her work and processes she states: “I have been making art my entire life and I have always been drawn to the figure, both human and animal and often the two together. To me, painting a portrait is not only about the sitter but equally about the artist as well. I see myself in the images I make, and I think about the human condition.”
Joining us again is Ruth Shively, a Portland based artist. Typically drawn to imagery of women she portrays quiet resilience and an innate sense of strength and beauty. About her work she states: “I work largely with the figure, concentrating on women. In awe of the strength women behold, I feel the need to express their character through my work. I can’t explain how I choose my subjects, I go with my instinct and immediate feelings and drawn to stark, positive/negative space. I like humor, mysteriousness, and intimate mood, wanting the viewer to make their own interpretation. I studied drawing and illustration in school but I’m a self-taught painter and prefer this medium as I love the spontaneity of the paint and using color to create space.” Shively, who grew up in the Midwest, has lived in Paris, New York City, Minneapolis and now Portland. She has exhibited her work in numerous group and solo exhibitions that have taken her from Los Angeles to New York and many venues in between.
October 2024 Exhibit
Clay Bodies
An invitational ceramic exhibition
October 12 – November 4
We are excited to be hosting a group invitational ceramic exhibition curated by local ceramic artist Molly Schulps and includes the work of herself, Ryana Lawson, Brian McNamara, José Flores Nava, Miles Nielsen, Michelle Valigura, and Paige Wright. The exhibition, Clay Bodies will be representative of a variety of styles, including hyper realism, stylized, figurative, narrative, installation, character driven and anthropomorphic. The exhibition opens in conjunction with Astoria’s Artwalk, Saturday October 12, 12 – 8 pm, several of the artists will be here that evening 5 – 8 pm and available to answer questions about their work. The exhibition will be on view through November 4th.
Molly Schulps, known for her functional and sculptural, hand-built and wheel thrown work celebrating flora and fauna, has put together a diverse and thoughtful collection of ceramic sculpture artists for the show Clay Bodies. About the exhibition she states: “Clay Bodies is an exhibition that explores a variety of contemporary ceramic sculpture. The artists work in a variety of processes and styles, which includes figurative, installation, trompe l’oeil, narrative, caricature, and sculptural vessels. The work itself is a small survey of the ever-changing scope of ceramics and how it continues to evolve.”
Schulps relocated to Astoria from Los Angeles where she was head of the Ceramics Program at Cypress College, beginning in 2004. She recently left that position to open her own teaching studio, Columbia Clayworks here in Astoria. She earned her Masters of Fine Arts, with distinction from California State University, Northridge in 2001 and has exhibited her ceramic work nationally as well as facilitating and presenting multiple ceramic workshops over the years. Her joyful ceramic work exudes positivity like a sunny day while reminding all the importance of wildlife conservation efforts. About her work she states: “There is a vulnerability that animals face because of human beings, which creates fragility and damages the ecosystem. My interest in creating visual narratives that include animals has long been a way to reflect on our tenuous relationship with nature and connect to my concerns about the environment and a responsibility to protect. I work in series, which lets me explore themes and develop narratives over time. This series is about dreams and vulnerabilities.”
Along with Molly’s work will be the Yakimon figures of Miles Nielsen who lives here in Astoria. Besides being a talented ceramic artist who is widely collected he is also the proprietor along with his father of Munktiki, creating a line of collectable tiki mugs as well as Dead Man’s Isle, perhaps Astoria’s first full-fledged tiki bar. For the exhibition Clay Bodies, Miles includes his highly sought after Yakimon figures. Miles’ work, inspired by Japanese culture creates his own characters, Yakimon—combining "yaki," meaning fired, and "mon," for monster. His characters are inspired by the tokusatsu genre of live-action shows. Each character inhabits a world that has evolved into a Japanese underground wrestling storyline. About his work he states, “This work aims to capture the essence of vintage Japanese soft vinyl toys, or Sofubi, in ceramic form. Through Yakimon, I invite viewers into the playful and imaginative universe my characters inhabit.”
José Flores Nava from Southern California brings his slip cast and hand-built sculpture, utilizing the vessel to hold/contain farm produce and act as metaphor to the experience of the undocumented immigrant. About his work he states, “As a potter, it’s my job to give meaning to the vessel. Vessels that are used as a substitute to the human body; vessels that resemble outdoor utilitarian objects; or vessels that echo the phrase “farm to table.” As an immigrant, it’s my duty to use my voice to speak about the undocumented laborer. In my artistic practice, I have chosen to represent familiar produce in an unfamiliar way by crafting slip-cast vegetables from stoneware. These sculptures, both strong and fragile, are brightly painted to draw attention to their presence. By nesting them within forms associated with outdoor utility or domestic vessels like buckets, cans, and bowls, I invite viewers to contemplate the interconnectedness of our society and the individuals whose labor sustains it.” José Flores Nava holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from California State University, Fullerton. Places he has exhibited include, Grand Central Art Center, Irvine Fine Arts Center, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Riverside Art Museum, Brea Gallery, ALMA’S RVA, Eutectic Gallery, and Northern Clay Center.
Brian McNamara, also from California includes his figurative sculpture. McNamara draws inspiration from his Mexican/Irish heritage as well as his early childhood. He taps into the nostalgia of action figures of the 90’s, specifically referencing the luchadores of Mexico. About his work he states: “sense of play is integral to my work, inviting viewers to reconnect with their own cherished memories of childhood and exploring the world around them- a time when imagination reigned supreme. The luchador figures serve as a bridge between my mixed Mexican and Irish heritage and the broader experience of holding diverse identities.” McNamara earned his Masters in Fine Arts in Ceramics from Tyler School of Art and Architecture and now teaches at Chico State, he has also taught at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, Hood College in Maryland, and Butte College in California.
Ryana Lawson of Seattle brings an installation piece, focusing on hand-built objects inspired by the natural world and in her own words “objects of existential curiosity and whimsy. Each piece is adorned in the flora and fauna from my dreams in a subtle narrative applying magic to the mundane.” Lawson received her MFA from Pennsylvania State University in 2019. In 2017, she was an Artist in Residence at Flower City Arts back in Rochester and received a post-baccalaureate education from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2016. She graduated with a BFA from The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2015. She has exhibited her work nationally.
Michelle Valigura of Cannon Beach brings hand-built sculpture echoing her background in stop motion animation design, (including Elf, and the Simpsons) and her love of mid-century aesthetics that directly translate into her work. She now owns and operates her own studio/showroom, Basalt Studio located in Cannon Beach. Prior to that she had her own design company, partnering with companies such as Disneyland, Kidrobot, Paradise Toys and other art brands. She has exhibited her work, lectured, and taught workshops at galleries, museums, and universities worldwide.
Paige Wright from Portland is known for her expressive ceramic faces, reminiscent of classical busts she hand builds each persona embellishing with texture, color, and pattern. About the work she includes to Clay Bodies she states: “these works are rooted in the ceramic process that grow from the fascination with the human mechanism, relinquishing to daydreams and quest for craft.” She received her Bachelors in Fine Arts with an emphasis in ceramics from The University of Montana in Missoula in 2006. She has participated in several artists in residence programs including the Carbondale Clay Center's long term residency program, Red Lodge Clay Center's year long residency program, Ohio University study abroad program at The International Ceramics Studio in Kecskemét, Hungary, and Project Network at the International Ceramics Research Center: Guldagergaard, Denmark. She received her Masters in Fine Arts with emphasis in ceramics from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio in 2012. She has held positions at Ohio University, Grand Valley State University, The Oregon College of Arts and Crafts, Clark College, Radius Art Center, Idyllwild Arts Academy and Pratt and Larson Tile. She conducts workshops and lectures around the country. Recently shown with Eutectic Gallery, The Chefas Projects, Antler and Talon Gallery and the Salem Art Association.
Clay Bodies
An invitational ceramic exhibition
October 12 – November 4
We are excited to be hosting a group invitational ceramic exhibition curated by local ceramic artist Molly Schulps and includes the work of herself, Ryana Lawson, Brian McNamara, José Flores Nava, Miles Nielsen, Michelle Valigura, and Paige Wright. The exhibition, Clay Bodies will be representative of a variety of styles, including hyper realism, stylized, figurative, narrative, installation, character driven and anthropomorphic. The exhibition opens in conjunction with Astoria’s Artwalk, Saturday October 12, 12 – 8 pm, several of the artists will be here that evening 5 – 8 pm and available to answer questions about their work. The exhibition will be on view through November 4th.
Molly Schulps, known for her functional and sculptural, hand-built and wheel thrown work celebrating flora and fauna, has put together a diverse and thoughtful collection of ceramic sculpture artists for the show Clay Bodies. About the exhibition she states: “Clay Bodies is an exhibition that explores a variety of contemporary ceramic sculpture. The artists work in a variety of processes and styles, which includes figurative, installation, trompe l’oeil, narrative, caricature, and sculptural vessels. The work itself is a small survey of the ever-changing scope of ceramics and how it continues to evolve.”
Schulps relocated to Astoria from Los Angeles where she was head of the Ceramics Program at Cypress College, beginning in 2004. She recently left that position to open her own teaching studio, Columbia Clayworks here in Astoria. She earned her Masters of Fine Arts, with distinction from California State University, Northridge in 2001 and has exhibited her ceramic work nationally as well as facilitating and presenting multiple ceramic workshops over the years. Her joyful ceramic work exudes positivity like a sunny day while reminding all the importance of wildlife conservation efforts. About her work she states: “There is a vulnerability that animals face because of human beings, which creates fragility and damages the ecosystem. My interest in creating visual narratives that include animals has long been a way to reflect on our tenuous relationship with nature and connect to my concerns about the environment and a responsibility to protect. I work in series, which lets me explore themes and develop narratives over time. This series is about dreams and vulnerabilities.”
Along with Molly’s work will be the Yakimon figures of Miles Nielsen who lives here in Astoria. Besides being a talented ceramic artist who is widely collected he is also the proprietor along with his father of Munktiki, creating a line of collectable tiki mugs as well as Dead Man’s Isle, perhaps Astoria’s first full-fledged tiki bar. For the exhibition Clay Bodies, Miles includes his highly sought after Yakimon figures. Miles’ work, inspired by Japanese culture creates his own characters, Yakimon—combining "yaki," meaning fired, and "mon," for monster. His characters are inspired by the tokusatsu genre of live-action shows. Each character inhabits a world that has evolved into a Japanese underground wrestling storyline. About his work he states, “This work aims to capture the essence of vintage Japanese soft vinyl toys, or Sofubi, in ceramic form. Through Yakimon, I invite viewers into the playful and imaginative universe my characters inhabit.”
José Flores Nava from Southern California brings his slip cast and hand-built sculpture, utilizing the vessel to hold/contain farm produce and act as metaphor to the experience of the undocumented immigrant. About his work he states, “As a potter, it’s my job to give meaning to the vessel. Vessels that are used as a substitute to the human body; vessels that resemble outdoor utilitarian objects; or vessels that echo the phrase “farm to table.” As an immigrant, it’s my duty to use my voice to speak about the undocumented laborer. In my artistic practice, I have chosen to represent familiar produce in an unfamiliar way by crafting slip-cast vegetables from stoneware. These sculptures, both strong and fragile, are brightly painted to draw attention to their presence. By nesting them within forms associated with outdoor utility or domestic vessels like buckets, cans, and bowls, I invite viewers to contemplate the interconnectedness of our society and the individuals whose labor sustains it.” José Flores Nava holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from California State University, Fullerton. Places he has exhibited include, Grand Central Art Center, Irvine Fine Arts Center, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Riverside Art Museum, Brea Gallery, ALMA’S RVA, Eutectic Gallery, and Northern Clay Center.
Brian McNamara, also from California includes his figurative sculpture. McNamara draws inspiration from his Mexican/Irish heritage as well as his early childhood. He taps into the nostalgia of action figures of the 90’s, specifically referencing the luchadores of Mexico. About his work he states: “sense of play is integral to my work, inviting viewers to reconnect with their own cherished memories of childhood and exploring the world around them- a time when imagination reigned supreme. The luchador figures serve as a bridge between my mixed Mexican and Irish heritage and the broader experience of holding diverse identities.” McNamara earned his Masters in Fine Arts in Ceramics from Tyler School of Art and Architecture and now teaches at Chico State, he has also taught at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, Hood College in Maryland, and Butte College in California.
Ryana Lawson of Seattle brings an installation piece, focusing on hand-built objects inspired by the natural world and in her own words “objects of existential curiosity and whimsy. Each piece is adorned in the flora and fauna from my dreams in a subtle narrative applying magic to the mundane.” Lawson received her MFA from Pennsylvania State University in 2019. In 2017, she was an Artist in Residence at Flower City Arts back in Rochester and received a post-baccalaureate education from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2016. She graduated with a BFA from The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2015. She has exhibited her work nationally.
Michelle Valigura of Cannon Beach brings hand-built sculpture echoing her background in stop motion animation design, (including Elf, and the Simpsons) and her love of mid-century aesthetics that directly translate into her work. She now owns and operates her own studio/showroom, Basalt Studio located in Cannon Beach. Prior to that she had her own design company, partnering with companies such as Disneyland, Kidrobot, Paradise Toys and other art brands. She has exhibited her work, lectured, and taught workshops at galleries, museums, and universities worldwide.
Paige Wright from Portland is known for her expressive ceramic faces, reminiscent of classical busts she hand builds each persona embellishing with texture, color, and pattern. About the work she includes to Clay Bodies she states: “these works are rooted in the ceramic process that grow from the fascination with the human mechanism, relinquishing to daydreams and quest for craft.” She received her Bachelors in Fine Arts with an emphasis in ceramics from The University of Montana in Missoula in 2006. She has participated in several artists in residence programs including the Carbondale Clay Center's long term residency program, Red Lodge Clay Center's year long residency program, Ohio University study abroad program at The International Ceramics Studio in Kecskemét, Hungary, and Project Network at the International Ceramics Research Center: Guldagergaard, Denmark. She received her Masters in Fine Arts with emphasis in ceramics from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio in 2012. She has held positions at Ohio University, Grand Valley State University, The Oregon College of Arts and Crafts, Clark College, Radius Art Center, Idyllwild Arts Academy and Pratt and Larson Tile. She conducts workshops and lectures around the country. Recently shown with Eutectic Gallery, The Chefas Projects, Antler and Talon Gallery and the Salem Art Association.
September 2024 Exhibit
Laura Hamje At the Beach: Mirrors & Reflections of the Subconscious
Deb Stoner Natural Wonders
September 14 – October 7
We are honored to present two exciting solo exhibitions in September. In our south gallery space, we welcome back Laura Hamje and her dynamic oil paintings. She brings a powerful new collection, At the Beach: Mirrors & Reflections of the Subconscious, inspired by living on the water's edge and the simple yet profound power of beauty and introspect it provides. In our front gallery we are honored to present a third solo exhibition for photographer Deb Stoner. She brings Natural Wonders, a new series of photographic still life prints. Both shows open during Astoria’s Artwalk, Saturday, September 14th, 12 – 8 pm. Laura Hamje and Deb Stoner will both be at the gallery for the opening reception September 14th, 5 – 8 pm, please stop by and say hello. The exhibitions will remain on view through October 7th.
Laura Hamje’s latest series At the Beach: Mirrors & Reflections of the Subconscious is an exquisite collection of oil paintings of all scale. For this series, Hamje places primary focus on the sublime place where land meets sea. Having lived on the Puget Sound for the past couple of years, she spent countless hours studying the water’s edge, the play of light dancing across water’s surface, patterns of fractal wave movement, reverberating from wind meeting current. Hamje carefully depicts these elements, leaving the impression of sound and scent for the viewer. About this series she shares “Certain landscapes invoke specific states of mind. Images from the beach are meditations on the connection between matter and air – the line between sky and earth become blurred by ocean waters. It is a place with no divisions and the interconnectedness of all things is omnipresent.” Her signature gestural style of bold brush stroke adds dimension and drama to what is already sacredly profound.
Hamje has exhibited her work from New York to Los Angeles and many places in between. Her work has been juried into the Royal Nebeker Gallery’s Au Naturel: Nudes in the 21st Century exhibition where she was the recipient of a purchase award. She earned her BFA from the University of Washington, studied in Rome, Italy as well as the Chicago Art Institute. Her work is included in both corporate and private collections across the country.
We are also excited to welcome back Deb Stoner who brings a new series of still life photographs titled Natural Wonders. Stoner, known for her elegant botanical still life photography, reminiscent of the great Dutch master’s paintings, brings a new collection of dye sublimation on aluminum prints. Her photographs, rich in color, texture, and plant life along with the occasional insect or two tucked into composition showcase a vast array of plant life found in her own garden and the gardens of friends and colleagues. These close-up images bring an astonishing view of petal, leaf and velvety stipe inviting the viewer into the fantastical world of botany.
About this series she states: “As I work on each of the still life compositions I make, I’m most curious about finding the story that the flowers and bugs want to tell. There’s a connection between the gardens where I harvested my still life characters, the people who grew these plants or the place where they were found, and the connections between the bugs and butterflies and the flowers where they live (whether fiction or fact). My work as an artist is to find, or create those connections.
Deb Stoner holds an MFA in Applied Design from SDSU, a BS in Geology from UC Davis, and a decades long teaching career at the former Oregon College of Art and Craft. She has been a guest lecturer at the Portland Art Museum, and had her work selected from an international call for artists in 2019 to do a building wrap of the Palos Verdes Art Center in Los Angeles. Her botanical work enshrined the Center throughout 2020. Stoner has juried purchases in the permanent public art collections at University of Oregon, OHSU, PCC, and the Portland International Airport, and is the recipient of numerous grants and residencies while selling her work to enthusiastic collectors around the world.
Laura Hamje At the Beach: Mirrors & Reflections of the Subconscious
Deb Stoner Natural Wonders
September 14 – October 7
We are honored to present two exciting solo exhibitions in September. In our south gallery space, we welcome back Laura Hamje and her dynamic oil paintings. She brings a powerful new collection, At the Beach: Mirrors & Reflections of the Subconscious, inspired by living on the water's edge and the simple yet profound power of beauty and introspect it provides. In our front gallery we are honored to present a third solo exhibition for photographer Deb Stoner. She brings Natural Wonders, a new series of photographic still life prints. Both shows open during Astoria’s Artwalk, Saturday, September 14th, 12 – 8 pm. Laura Hamje and Deb Stoner will both be at the gallery for the opening reception September 14th, 5 – 8 pm, please stop by and say hello. The exhibitions will remain on view through October 7th.
Laura Hamje’s latest series At the Beach: Mirrors & Reflections of the Subconscious is an exquisite collection of oil paintings of all scale. For this series, Hamje places primary focus on the sublime place where land meets sea. Having lived on the Puget Sound for the past couple of years, she spent countless hours studying the water’s edge, the play of light dancing across water’s surface, patterns of fractal wave movement, reverberating from wind meeting current. Hamje carefully depicts these elements, leaving the impression of sound and scent for the viewer. About this series she shares “Certain landscapes invoke specific states of mind. Images from the beach are meditations on the connection between matter and air – the line between sky and earth become blurred by ocean waters. It is a place with no divisions and the interconnectedness of all things is omnipresent.” Her signature gestural style of bold brush stroke adds dimension and drama to what is already sacredly profound.
Hamje has exhibited her work from New York to Los Angeles and many places in between. Her work has been juried into the Royal Nebeker Gallery’s Au Naturel: Nudes in the 21st Century exhibition where she was the recipient of a purchase award. She earned her BFA from the University of Washington, studied in Rome, Italy as well as the Chicago Art Institute. Her work is included in both corporate and private collections across the country.
We are also excited to welcome back Deb Stoner who brings a new series of still life photographs titled Natural Wonders. Stoner, known for her elegant botanical still life photography, reminiscent of the great Dutch master’s paintings, brings a new collection of dye sublimation on aluminum prints. Her photographs, rich in color, texture, and plant life along with the occasional insect or two tucked into composition showcase a vast array of plant life found in her own garden and the gardens of friends and colleagues. These close-up images bring an astonishing view of petal, leaf and velvety stipe inviting the viewer into the fantastical world of botany.
About this series she states: “As I work on each of the still life compositions I make, I’m most curious about finding the story that the flowers and bugs want to tell. There’s a connection between the gardens where I harvested my still life characters, the people who grew these plants or the place where they were found, and the connections between the bugs and butterflies and the flowers where they live (whether fiction or fact). My work as an artist is to find, or create those connections.
Deb Stoner holds an MFA in Applied Design from SDSU, a BS in Geology from UC Davis, and a decades long teaching career at the former Oregon College of Art and Craft. She has been a guest lecturer at the Portland Art Museum, and had her work selected from an international call for artists in 2019 to do a building wrap of the Palos Verdes Art Center in Los Angeles. Her botanical work enshrined the Center throughout 2020. Stoner has juried purchases in the permanent public art collections at University of Oregon, OHSU, PCC, and the Portland International Airport, and is the recipient of numerous grants and residencies while selling her work to enthusiastic collectors around the world.
August 2024 Exhibition
Imogen Gallery
Matthew Dennison
Abducent Sea
August 10 – September 9, 2024
We are excited to host a second solo exhibition for artist Matthew Dennison and his latest series of paintings titled Abducent Sea. Known for his personality filled portraiture paintings of animals, Dennison shifts it up going back to his love of figurative painting. This current collection includes work that takes a strong narrative turn; each painting beckoning with a story waiting to be told. Dennison takes a serious look at our connection to place and our coexistence with the natural world. With a strong nod to nostalgia and a simpler time, he portrays the delicate balance of life on the edge. Stop in to meet Matthew, he’ll be present and available to answer questions about his work during Astoria’s Second Saturday Artwalk, Aug 10, 5 – 8 pm. The exhibition will be on view through September 9th.
Abducent Sea, Matthew Dennison’s latest series of oil paintings includes a strong sense of youthfulness and a sense of abandonment that for many might remind them of times long ago. Depictions of youth enjoying the abundance the great outdoors that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Simple things like lounging in a rowboat, swimmers frolicking in a lake and enjoying the long days of summer in its simplest and purest form. The show title, Abducent Sea gives hints to Dennison’s thoughts about this series. The term abducent means pulling away, a movement controlled by muscle reaction and/or tension. Dennison describes this series as a place where he “seeks a sense of otherness, or perhaps a connection to a world fostered by place and history, a lost world where I memorialize what I find and form a visual text anchored around a larger idea about the paradox of orientation in the natural world and how it is threaded into our daily lives.” With saturated bright and energetic colors, Dennison conveys a sense of freedom and joie de vivre, living in the moment and untethered to realities of contemporary culture, perhaps with the intent of “pulling away” from technology and ideals of today.
Dennison, a long-time contributor to the Northwest’s art community has enjoyed a notable career, exhibiting his work extensively throughout the region as well as Chicago and the east coast. His work is included to the permanent collections of the Portland Art Museum and the Tacoma Art Museum as well as many corporate and private collections around the world. Most recently his painting “North Cascades” (from the Abducent Sea series) was featured on the Spring edition cover of The Café Review, a quarterly poetry and visual art publication based in Portland, Maine. They also featured several other paintings by Dennison within the publication.
Imogen Gallery
Matthew Dennison
Abducent Sea
August 10 – September 9, 2024
We are excited to host a second solo exhibition for artist Matthew Dennison and his latest series of paintings titled Abducent Sea. Known for his personality filled portraiture paintings of animals, Dennison shifts it up going back to his love of figurative painting. This current collection includes work that takes a strong narrative turn; each painting beckoning with a story waiting to be told. Dennison takes a serious look at our connection to place and our coexistence with the natural world. With a strong nod to nostalgia and a simpler time, he portrays the delicate balance of life on the edge. Stop in to meet Matthew, he’ll be present and available to answer questions about his work during Astoria’s Second Saturday Artwalk, Aug 10, 5 – 8 pm. The exhibition will be on view through September 9th.
Abducent Sea, Matthew Dennison’s latest series of oil paintings includes a strong sense of youthfulness and a sense of abandonment that for many might remind them of times long ago. Depictions of youth enjoying the abundance the great outdoors that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Simple things like lounging in a rowboat, swimmers frolicking in a lake and enjoying the long days of summer in its simplest and purest form. The show title, Abducent Sea gives hints to Dennison’s thoughts about this series. The term abducent means pulling away, a movement controlled by muscle reaction and/or tension. Dennison describes this series as a place where he “seeks a sense of otherness, or perhaps a connection to a world fostered by place and history, a lost world where I memorialize what I find and form a visual text anchored around a larger idea about the paradox of orientation in the natural world and how it is threaded into our daily lives.” With saturated bright and energetic colors, Dennison conveys a sense of freedom and joie de vivre, living in the moment and untethered to realities of contemporary culture, perhaps with the intent of “pulling away” from technology and ideals of today.
Dennison, a long-time contributor to the Northwest’s art community has enjoyed a notable career, exhibiting his work extensively throughout the region as well as Chicago and the east coast. His work is included to the permanent collections of the Portland Art Museum and the Tacoma Art Museum as well as many corporate and private collections around the world. Most recently his painting “North Cascades” (from the Abducent Sea series) was featured on the Spring edition cover of The Café Review, a quarterly poetry and visual art publication based in Portland, Maine. They also featured several other paintings by Dennison within the publication.
July 2024 Exhibit
Tom Cramer
Electric Garden and More New Works
July 13 – August 5
We are thrilled to welcome back the renowned Portland artist Tom Cramer. He brings bold, complex, color saturated oil paintings along with carved and painted wood relief wall pieces, and wood burned oil paintings. This series, Electric Garden is a fresh and bold abstract series, exuding contagious, uplifting energy, of the enigmatic Tom Cramer, both in his paintings and his personality. Stop by and say hello to Tom who will be at the gallery 5 – 8 pm during artwalk. The exhibition will remain on view through August 5th.
Cramer has been at the epicenter of the Portland art scene for decades as an exhibiting artist as well as creating public art. For years, many things have acted as a canvas to Cramer, utilizing furniture, cars, buildings, the ballet; these are just a sample of the channels for his creative self-expression. Within this series his collector’s might note a shift in style as he merges into a new era. His work continues with a strong anchor in use of color and pattern, echoing his long interest in Eastern spirituality, music, and botany. Cramer utilizes organized color, line, and form to suggest geometry, that then in entirety becomes a vessel of essence and/or spirituality.
Art critic, author and curator Richard Speer, who in 2019 curated a retrospective exhibition of Cramer’s for an exhibition at the Jorden Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon, recently had the opportunity to visit with Cramer and shared this about his visit: “I had a spirited studio visit with artist Tom Cramer, who definitely qualifies as a living legend of the Pacific Northwest art scene: someone with a bigger-than-life persona, a wide and loyal following, and a distinctive artistic style. I saw many of the pieces slated for that show: oil paintings on linen as well as mixed-media relief paintings on carved panel. The work is exuberant, jazzy, splashy, kicky, psychedelic, as we’ve come to expect from Tom. There’s a sensual, tropical vibe to several of the paintings and a bejeweled motif in others that puts me in mind of Gustav Klimt. Tom has always had a strong sense of line, which is why I find a stained-glass, Rouault-like quality to the abstract and biomorphic shapes in his oil paintings, however, in several of the new works the shapes jostle and float in undelineated space, as if held together by an unseen gravitational or magnetic force.”
A conversation with Cramer always leads into avenues that may have been little explored or considered, full of energy, ideas, and many twists. Cramer’s paintings reflect very much the same and are in many ways a direct reference to his own experiences. Drawing inspiration from intense periods of travel and engaging on a deep and personal level in what he considers to be older and wiser cultures, has helped him to create “an art driven by emotional content.” About this series “Electric Garden,” Cramer states: “I’m interested in Synesthesia- hearing color and seeing sound, a transference of senses. For example, when we hear Debussy we might see Monet and when we see Monet we might hear Debussy’s music…etc. For almost every piece of music, pictures form in the mind. The history of art and the history of music are one and the same- for every art movement- there is a corresponding music that goes with it. I’m interested in forming images in the viewers head enough so that the viewer is a participant in the content of the piece. Within this series, for example - more organic pieces seeming to elicit a feeling of organic plant life, not actual paintings of plants but the viewer may perceive them as such. In the same manner, the more rectilinear ones might suggest the human construct. That being said, I’m against interpretation and prefer for the viewer to decide what it all means for and to them, emotional content is the ultimate goal.
It’s with this in mind that Tom is offering his paintings at levels that all can afford. His goal is simple and straight forward; to put art in the hands and hearts of all who will benefit from living with original artwork. Each painting holds spirit and soul, and much like music or poetry it has the profound ability to carry those who engage, to a better place whether it be momentary or forever.
Cramer’s formal training began at PNCA in Portland and then on to Pratt Institute in New York. He has enjoyed a long and diverse career, showing in many reputable Northwest galleries over the years, including Russo Lee Gallery and Augen Gallery, both in Portland. His work has been exhibited at the Tacoma Art Museum and the Portland Art Museum as well as many other prestigious visual art venues. Cramer’s work is also included to the permanent collections of Microsoft, Inc, Portland Art Museum, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Boise Art Museum, and many other highly regarded institutions.
Tom Cramer
Electric Garden and More New Works
July 13 – August 5
We are thrilled to welcome back the renowned Portland artist Tom Cramer. He brings bold, complex, color saturated oil paintings along with carved and painted wood relief wall pieces, and wood burned oil paintings. This series, Electric Garden is a fresh and bold abstract series, exuding contagious, uplifting energy, of the enigmatic Tom Cramer, both in his paintings and his personality. Stop by and say hello to Tom who will be at the gallery 5 – 8 pm during artwalk. The exhibition will remain on view through August 5th.
Cramer has been at the epicenter of the Portland art scene for decades as an exhibiting artist as well as creating public art. For years, many things have acted as a canvas to Cramer, utilizing furniture, cars, buildings, the ballet; these are just a sample of the channels for his creative self-expression. Within this series his collector’s might note a shift in style as he merges into a new era. His work continues with a strong anchor in use of color and pattern, echoing his long interest in Eastern spirituality, music, and botany. Cramer utilizes organized color, line, and form to suggest geometry, that then in entirety becomes a vessel of essence and/or spirituality.
Art critic, author and curator Richard Speer, who in 2019 curated a retrospective exhibition of Cramer’s for an exhibition at the Jorden Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon, recently had the opportunity to visit with Cramer and shared this about his visit: “I had a spirited studio visit with artist Tom Cramer, who definitely qualifies as a living legend of the Pacific Northwest art scene: someone with a bigger-than-life persona, a wide and loyal following, and a distinctive artistic style. I saw many of the pieces slated for that show: oil paintings on linen as well as mixed-media relief paintings on carved panel. The work is exuberant, jazzy, splashy, kicky, psychedelic, as we’ve come to expect from Tom. There’s a sensual, tropical vibe to several of the paintings and a bejeweled motif in others that puts me in mind of Gustav Klimt. Tom has always had a strong sense of line, which is why I find a stained-glass, Rouault-like quality to the abstract and biomorphic shapes in his oil paintings, however, in several of the new works the shapes jostle and float in undelineated space, as if held together by an unseen gravitational or magnetic force.”
A conversation with Cramer always leads into avenues that may have been little explored or considered, full of energy, ideas, and many twists. Cramer’s paintings reflect very much the same and are in many ways a direct reference to his own experiences. Drawing inspiration from intense periods of travel and engaging on a deep and personal level in what he considers to be older and wiser cultures, has helped him to create “an art driven by emotional content.” About this series “Electric Garden,” Cramer states: “I’m interested in Synesthesia- hearing color and seeing sound, a transference of senses. For example, when we hear Debussy we might see Monet and when we see Monet we might hear Debussy’s music…etc. For almost every piece of music, pictures form in the mind. The history of art and the history of music are one and the same- for every art movement- there is a corresponding music that goes with it. I’m interested in forming images in the viewers head enough so that the viewer is a participant in the content of the piece. Within this series, for example - more organic pieces seeming to elicit a feeling of organic plant life, not actual paintings of plants but the viewer may perceive them as such. In the same manner, the more rectilinear ones might suggest the human construct. That being said, I’m against interpretation and prefer for the viewer to decide what it all means for and to them, emotional content is the ultimate goal.
It’s with this in mind that Tom is offering his paintings at levels that all can afford. His goal is simple and straight forward; to put art in the hands and hearts of all who will benefit from living with original artwork. Each painting holds spirit and soul, and much like music or poetry it has the profound ability to carry those who engage, to a better place whether it be momentary or forever.
Cramer’s formal training began at PNCA in Portland and then on to Pratt Institute in New York. He has enjoyed a long and diverse career, showing in many reputable Northwest galleries over the years, including Russo Lee Gallery and Augen Gallery, both in Portland. His work has been exhibited at the Tacoma Art Museum and the Portland Art Museum as well as many other prestigious visual art venues. Cramer’s work is also included to the permanent collections of Microsoft, Inc, Portland Art Museum, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Boise Art Museum, and many other highly regarded institutions.
